Chicago Stars FC has hired Vlatko Andonovski as the club's chief soccer officer, a major statement of intent for the struggling NWSL team.
Andonovski only departed as the Kansas City Current's sporting director earlier this month, but the former U.S. women's national team coach was not out of work long.
He will take on a huge challenge in the form of the Stars, who appear poised to finish at the bottom of the league for the second straight season. It's been a miserable campaign for Chicago, which has just five wins in 24 games and a league-worst -40 goal differential. The second-worst team, Racing Louisville, is at -12.
“Joining the Chicago Stars was an easy decision after the conversations I had with ownership and leadership,” Andonovski said
in a club release.
“We had the opportunity to talk in depth about the direction of this club, their vision, and values. Everything I heard aligns with the way I believe the game should be played and what the club needs to be successful. One of the things that excites me the most about this club is there is so much opportunity, and I can’t wait to be around the staff and players and start pushing forward.”
Andonovski has established himself as one of the most successful coaches in NWSL history, winning back-to-back league championships in 2014 and 2015 with FC Kansas City. His tenure with the Seattle Reign in 2018 and 2019 helped earn him the chance to coach the USWNT, which he did between 2019 and 2023.
Though Andonovski couldn't lead the U.S. to glory at the Olympics in 2021 or the World Cup in 2023, his reputation as an elite NWSL coach has remained intact.
That continued in Kansas City, where he led the Current to a 65-point season in 2025, smashing the record for most points in a single season and also setting marks for wins and fewest goals conceded.
But Andonovski moved into a role as sporting director prior to the 2026 season, which the Current admitted "was not the right fit" in a press release announcing his departure.
For Stars president Karen Leetzow, however, having Andonovski in a similar role in Chicago is a no-brainer.
“As we’ve navigated our club’s challenges, ownership and executive leadership has been steadfast in their understanding that any future head of our sporting initiatives must be a proven winner with a thorough understanding of this league, it’s mechanisms and standards, and what it takes to be a serious contender for titles,” Leetzow said.
“Vlatko brings demonstrated experience in each of those areas, and we’re looking forward to his impact as we continue to build, expand our sporting structure, and bring this club up to the level of our ambitions.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ex-USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski named Chicago Stars chief soccer officer
